Adjustable window-platform.



T. E. Scnumm. ADJUSTABLE WINDOW PLATFORM.

APPLICATION. FILED OCT; I3. 1915.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

T. E. SCHUTTLER.

ADJUSTABLE WINDOW PLATFORM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 13, 1915- Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

' 2 SHEE TTTTTTTT 2.

m mmy THEODOR E. SCHUTTLER, 0F HOISINGTON, KANSAS.

- ADJUSTABLE WINDOW-PLATFORM. v

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, ioic.

Application filed October 13, 1915. Serial No 55,675.

To all whom 2'2. may concern.-

Be it known that I, THEoDoR E. SoHUTT- LER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hoisington, in the county of Barton and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable lVindow-Platforms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention contemplates an improved window platform and has as its primary object to provide a device of thischaracter especially adapted for use by window cleaners or painters and which will eliminate the necessity of leaning out of a window or climbing out upon the window-sill in order to gain access to the exterior of the window and which will thus do away with accidents arising from this cause.

The invention has as a further object and more specifically to provide a device of this character adapted to be arranged within a window opening to project laterally therethrough and which will be adjustable to engage the window casing so that the device may be readily fitted within windows of various sizes.

A still further object'of the invention is to provide a device of this character which, may be arranged to seat upon the windowsill or may be fitted over the upper edges of the window sashes, when lowered within the window casing so that the device may be placed at different levels within a window opening and thereby make it easily possible to so position the platform that all parts of the window may be readily reached.

The invention has as a further object to provide a device of this character having coacting arms adjustable to engage the sides of the window casing and also provided with a locking member adjustable to engage the window-sill, or one of the sashes of the window, as the case may be, to coact with the said arms for holding the platform against shifting movement in either direction through the window opening and also for holding the'platform in substantially horizontal position projected through the window opening. And the invention has as a still further object to provide a device of this character which will prove entirely safe in use and which may be readily connected to a window without danger of marring the Woodwork thereof.

Other and incidental objects will appear as the description proceeds and in the drawings wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Figure l is a perspective view of my improved platform, particularly illustrating the pivotal mounting of the supporting arms thereof, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the platform resting upon the sill of a conventional type of window and also illustrating the manner in which the arms thereof and the locking member of the platform are adapted to engage the sides of the window casing and the window-sill respectively, Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the platform arranged upon the upper edges of the sashes of the window, both of the sashes being lowered within the window opening, Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view particularly showing vthe mounting of the adjustable locking member or strip of the platform, and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a portion of one of the adjusting rods employed in connection with the arms of the platform and the catch member for the said rod.

In carrying outmy invention, I employ spaced parallel sills 10 to the outer extremities of which is connected a platform 11 extending transversely between and connecting the sills, this much ofthe structure constituting the body portion of the device. Swingingly connected to the forward extremities of the sills 10, preferably by suitable hinges, are arms 12 which project rearwardly and are movable, at their inner ends, toward or away from the outer sides of the sills, it being observed that the arms are mounted in the same plane with the sills.

Connected to the inner free ends of the arms 12 are upstanding shoulder pieces 13 which are arranged to project laterally from the said arms and the upper ends of which are connected to the arms by braces 14.

Swingingly connected to the inner sides of the arms 12 adjacent the free ends thereof, are adjusting rods 15, one of which is 16 secured to the inner sides of the sills.

The rods 15 upon the convex'edges thereof are provided with teeth adapted to engage within suitable alined notches formed in opposite walls of the casing and arranged within the casing are bowed springs 17 The springs 17 are adapted to urge the teeth of therods into engagement within the said notches so that while the free ends of the arms 12 may be moved laterally away from the inner ends of the sills of the platform, the catch members 16 will automatically operate to engage the rods 15 for holding the arms at adjustment and preventing the'free ends thereof from collapsing toward the sills. justment of the arms, the inner ends of the rods 15 may be moved within the slots of the casings against the tension of the springs 17 to such position that the teeth of the said rods .will slide through the said slots when the rods may then be moved longitudinally through the casings.

Connected to the inner extremities of the sills 10 adjacent the lower longitudinal edges thereof are guide members 18 which project laterally between the sills from the inner faces thereof. These guide members are longitudinally slotted to adjustably receive set screws 19 which carry a locking member or strip 20 extending transversely between the sills and projecting below the lower edges thereof. 'It is now to be observed that theforward faces of the shoulder pieces 13 are padded as shown at 21 as are also the outer edges thereof. The outer faces of the arms 12 are also padded at the inner terminals thereof as at 22, and a pado23 is arranged upon the lower edges of the said arms, at the inner ends thereof, the pad 22 extending to cover the lower ends of the shoulder pieces 13.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings, I have shown my improved platform fitted through the opening of a conventional type of window, the casing of which includes confronting side members 24: which are connected by a lower end member or cross-piece 25. Associated with the member 25 is a sill 26. The inner ends of the sills 10 of the platform'are arran ed to seat upon the window sill 26 with the sills 10 projecting laterally through the window opening to support the platform 11 upon the exterior of the window.

. The inner extremities of the arms 12 are then adjusted outwardly away from the sills .10 -.and the shoulder pieces 13 thereof engaged laterallyover the inner vertical edges of the side members 24 of the window casing. 1 The said shoulder pieces will then,

To effect the inward ad through the medium of the arms 12, support the platform vertically. The locking member 20 is then adjusted upon the guides 18 to engage against the inner longitudinal edge of the sill 26 of the window casing with. the said locking member seating upon the crosspiece 25. It will now be observed that the cross-piece will prevent any inward shifting of the platform within the window opening while the shoulder pieces 13 will prevent any outward shifting movement of the )latform. Consequently, the locking strip and the said shoulder pieces will coaet to hold the platform in fixed position within the window opening.

When it is desired to detach the platform or remove the platform, this result may be readily accomplished by simply lifting the platform upwardly to such position that the strip 20 will clear the inner edge of the sill 26 of the window casing when the platform may be bodily shifted inwardly through the window opening. It will be noted that to thus remove the platform, it is not necessary to molest the adjustment of the arms 12 nor of the locking strip 20. Consequently, the platform may be easily repositioned within the window opening by projecting the platform therethrough at such elevation that the locking strip 20 will clear the sill 26. When the platform has been moved to such position that the shoulder pieces 13 engage the side members 2 1 of the casing, the pl atform may be shifted vertically within the window opening to engage the locking strip 20 in the rear of the sill. By this construction, it will be observed that when the adjustable elements of the platform are fixed to fit a window casing of a particular size, the platform may be readily connected to or disconnected from all other casings of the same size without the necessity of readjustment, this being a particular feature of ad.- vantage since, in large buildings, a great many of the windows thereof are of the same size and in cleaning such windows, it would therefore not be necessary for a window cleaner to adjust the platform to each particular window. Furthermore, the felts or pads 21, 22 and 23 are, as will be observed, so arranged that when the device is connected to a window casing, the arms 12 or shoulder pieces 13 thereof will not mar the woodwork of the casing.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings, I have illustrated the manner in which my improved platform may be arranged upon the upper edges of the sashes of the window, when disposed substantially in a common plane. The inner ends of the sills 10 of the platform are then engaged with the upper edge of the said sashes and the arms 12 adjusted outwardly to engage the shoulder pieces 13 with the sides of the window casing. The locking strip 20 is then adjusted to abut the outer sash when the several elements of the platform will cooperate, as previously described, to hold the platform in fixed position. When so arranged upon the window sashes, the platform may be fitted in position or detached with the same facility as when engaged with the sill of the window casing, and it will be noted that in resting the platform upon the upper edges of the window sashes, a person standing upon the platform may then have easy access to the upper portion of the window for any purpose desired. a

It will therefore be seen that I provide a very simple and eflicient construction for the purpose set forth. Should it be found necessary, the platform may be first fixed to the window-sill upon one level and then fixed to the upper edges of the sashes of the window upon another level so that Without assuming a position such as would involve risk, a person upon the platform could very easily reach the entire outer surface of the window casing. This is an especially advantageous feature when the platform is to be used by a painter, and in this connection, attention is called to the fact that a pair of platforms could be projected through adjacent windows and a cross-piece arranged thereon to support the painter, so that access could be had to the outer surface of the building. When in position, my improved platform provides a rigid structure and may be so positioned within a window opening in the manner previously described, that all wabbling of the platform or tipping thereof will be overcome.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and ters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described including a body portion having sills, and a platform connecting said sills, supporting arms swingingly connected to the outer extremities of said sills upon opposite sides of the body portion and arranged with their free ends confronting the inner extremities of the sills, means adjustably connecting the free end-s of said arms with the sills, upstanding shoulder pieces carried by the free extremities of the said arms, and a stop strip extending transversely between the sills and adjustable longitudinally thereof, the arms being movable to engage the shoulder pieces at opposite sides of a window casing the inner extremities of the sills of the body portion seating upon the sill of the casing desire to secure by Letwith and with the stop strip engaging the outer edge of the casing sill to coact with the said shoulder pieces for holding the body portion against longitudinal shifting movement relative to the sill with the platform supported by the said shoulder pieces to project laterally through the casing.

2. A device of the character described including a body portion, arms swingingly connected to the outer extremity of the body portion, and a transversely extending stop member carried by the body portion at its inner extremity, the said arms being adapted to engage a window casing upon opposite sides thereof for supporting the body portion in operative position resting at its inner extremity upon the casing sill with the said arms abutting the confronting faces of the said sides for holding the body portion against lateral shifting movement relative thereto and with the said stop member extending longitudinally of and engaging the sill for holding the body portion against inward shifting movement relative to the sill.

3. A device of the character described including a body portion, and arms swingingly connected to the outer extremity of the body portion and extending rearwardly in overlapping relation thereto, the said arms being adapted to project through a window casing to engage opposite sides thereof for supporting the body portion in operative position with its inner extremity engaging the said casing sill to be supported thereby and with the said arms engaging the confronting faces of the said sides for holding the body portion against lateral shifting movement relative thereto.

4. A device of the character described including a body portion, and supporting arms swingingly connected to the outer extremity of the body portion with their free ends confronting the inner extremity thereof and shiftable laterally in opposite directions away from the body portion to engage a window casing with the inner extremity of the body'portion resting upon the casing sill to be supported thereby.

5. A device of the character described including a body portion provided with sills, and supporting arms swingingly connected at their outer extremities to the outer extremities of said sills with the inner extre1nities of the said arms confronting the inner extremities of the said sills and shiftable laterally in opposite directions away from the body portion to engage a window casing with the inner extremities of said sills resting upon the casing sill to support the body portion at its inner end.

6. A device of the character described in cluding a body portion, supporting arms swingingly connected to the outer extremshiftable laterally in opposite directions away from the body portion to engage a window casing with the inner extremity of the body portion resting upon the casing sill to be supported thereby, and a transversely extending stop member adjustable upon the body portion longitudinally of said arms and adapted to co-act therewith in holding 0 the body portion in position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

THEODOR E. SGHUTTLER. EL. 8-]

' Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner or Patents.

Washington. D. G. 

